Traveling through UP MI this summer

[ChrisB]

We will be traveling through the UP from Duluth to Mackinaw Bridge on the more northern (unless we can be convinced otherwise) route. We'd like to find a great place to stay in the St. Ignace area. Looking for good places to eat, too. Places to visit? Any UPpers here? Any ideas? Thanks!

[skimomma]

I highly recommend the Shipwreck Museum in Whitefish Point. It is awesome for all ages. The pickings are slim for decent restaurants anywhere in the U.P. Be prepared for your standard small town selections. Marquette does have some nicer restaurants. We like Sweet Water Cafe and Donker's (very cool for kids). Both also have good options for GF and vegetarians in case that is a consideration. What time of year are you planning this trip? Much is closed until summer. But in summer, St. Ignace has lots of little mom-and-pop hotels. These are not only cheaper but usually nicer than the chains. Pictured Rocks and Tequammenon Falls are both great for hiking. There are boat tours in Munising for both Pictured Rocks and sunken shipwrecks. Both are super-cool. If you have any budding civil engineers, the Soo Locks are fun too. In the far western U.P., the Porcupine Mountain State Park is great! The shore there has very nice swimming and the trails int he park are extensive and beautiful.

[MomtoCandJ]

If you go a little farther east you can go to Sault Ste Marie. They have tours of the Sault Locks and Valley Forge which is a ship museum. Valley Forge is a freighter that has been converted into the museum :) and you could always visit Drummond Island too not as touristy as Mackinaw but has an interesting museum since it was the last British settlement after the war of 1812.

[ChrisB]

Thanks for the great ideas! We will be coming through in July.

[skimomma]

Thanks for the great ideas! We will be coming through in July.

 

Knowing that, I would for sure set aside some time to hit the outdoor stuff. The Porcupine Mountains is really worth the time and effort...and it is almost free:) Bring a picnic lunch....there is nothing to eat for miles in any direction. And your swimsuits! There is also a really nice beach near the Shipwreck museum.

[MomtoCandJ]

Just a warning, no matter how hot it is outside, Lake Superior is ALWAYS COLD!

[MomtoCandJ]

Oh and there are lots of geocaches around up there if you like to do that :)

[Harriet Vane]

Taquamenon Falls is truly beautiful. Definitely plan some hiking there. A regional food that is fun are pasties. Towns tend to be small, with lots of mom-and-pop businesses. When we go up there we like to spend our time hiking the woods or along the lake.